Reflections on life in the global village

North Carolina twist: Church challenges ban on gay marriage

Hmm . . . I know there is a Monty Python reunion in the works, so I have to wonder if they have anything to do with the news that a church is suing the state of North Carolina for the right to perform same-same marriages.

Yes, you read that correctly. According to numerous reports, the New York Times quoted below, the United Church of Christ is challenging North Carolina’s ban on same-sex marriage. And it has company in the suit, the Times says:

The United Church of Christ is joined in the case by a Lutheran priest, a rabbi, two Unitarian Universalist ministers and a Baptist pastor, as well as by several same-sex couples. They said that North Carolina’s marriage law “represents an unlawful government intervention into the internal structure and practices of plaintiffs’ religions.”

So, the state’s attorney general reportedly believes the ban on same-sex marriage should be lifted, but will defend the ban in court, anyway. Reports the Times:

The defendant in the case, North Carolina’s attorney general, Roy Cooper, has said that he believes his state’s ban on same-sex marriage should be lifted, but has also pledged to defend the state’s laws “when legal arguments exist.” On Monday, his spokeswoman, Noelle Talley, said her office had no comment on the United Church of Christ case.

Oy . . . my blonde head is spinning. I’ve tuned in to Edie Brickell’s What I Am in a bid to restore my balance . . .

I’m not aware of too many things
I know what I know, if you know what I mean
Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box
Religion is the smile on a dog
I’m not aware of too many things
I know what I know, if you know what I mean, d-doo yeah
Choke me in the shallow waters
Before I get too deep . . .– Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians

If this case doesn’t drive the judicial system mad, nothing will. I mean, imagine if on one hand you have religious groups fighting to ban same-sex marriage and on the other hand other religious groups fighting to allow same-sex marriage . . . it will be quite the tea party down the rabbit hole, yes?

Hmm . . . This has to be a Monty Python skit in the making, eh Watson?

It’s a giggle to be sure, but it makes you wonder why there haven’t been similar noises in other states. Do the churches/organisations not exist or are they just keeping their heads below the parapet?

In the UK, even though gay marriages are already happening both the Catholic church and the C of E have moaned and groaned and pouted like spoilt brats, even to the extent that the C of E is actually legally prevented from conducing gay marriages, even if it now wanted to. Already the C of E is experiencing dissent from some quarters from the ranks of it’s clergy over the issue. No matter their stance, they can’t avoid internal dissonance, which is probably one of the key reasons why they really wanted gay marriage to still be universally illegal. Which all ignores the fact that there is a diversity of other religions such as the Quakers and Unitarians who do want to conduct gay marriages, and will presumably do so when the opportunity arises.